Omudhome Ogbru, PharmD

Dr. Ogbru received his Doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy in 1995. He completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Arizona/University Medical Center in 1996. He was a Professor of Pharmacy Practice and a Regional Clerkship Coordinator for the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy from 1996-99.

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

GENERIC NAME: Morphine for injection

BRAND NAMES: Astramorph, Duramorph, Infumorph, AVINza

DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Morphine is a chemical found in the opium plant.
It is a narcotic (opiod) pain-reliever similar to hydrocodone, oxycodone,
methadone, fentanyl, and other opioids. Morphine, like other opioids, stimulates
receptors on nerves in the brain to increase the threshold to pain (increasing
the amount of stimulation it takes to feel pain) and reduce the perception of
pain (the perceived importance of the pain). The FDA approved injectable
morphine in October 1986.

PRESCRIBED FOR: Morphine through intravenous, epidural, or intrathecal
injections is used for the management of moderate-to-severe acute and chronic
pain that is not responsive to non-narcotic pain relievers.

SIDE EFFECTS: The most frequent adverse reactions of morphine include: